The reasons of a pastors resolution, touching the reuerend receiuing of the holy communion: written by Dauid Lindesay, D. of Diuinitie, in the Vniuersitie of Saint Andrewes in Scotland, and preacher of the gospell at Dundy

ARGVM. 1. It is not certaine, that our Sauiour did Sit▪ or Lye.

ALthough it may be presumed, as hath beene said, that our Saui∣our

and his Apostles obserued the same gesture, at the celebration of this Sacrament of his body, that hee had vsed before at the Paschall Sup∣per: yet it is not certaine, when hee tooke the Bread, and gaue thankes, and blessed the Cup, that he did not alter and interchange the Table-gesture, with some religious gesture of praying. For Athenaus recor∣deth in his fourth Booke, that the ci∣tizens of Nancratis, when they did meete at their Banquets, after that they had layed themselues downe on the beds at Table, had a custome 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 To rise againe on their Knees, while their Priest rehear∣sed the prayers vsed in their Nation. This declareth, that although they had beene Lying at Table before, yet when they blessed and gaue thankes for their meate, they vsed to rise vp againe on their Knees. If this religious and reuerend ge∣sture

was vsed by them at Prayer, is it not much more probable, when our Sauiour blessed and gaue thanks, that hee and the Apostles did rise a∣gaine, either on their feete, or their Knees? which was their constant gesture when they prayed, whom we doe also imitate when we begin this Sacrament, with blessing and thanks-giuing, humbling our selues vpō our Knees. If this our Sauiour and the Apostles did, what warrant haue we that they lay downe againe, and did not stand still on their feete, or sit on their Knees, according to the ge∣sture vsed by them at praying, vn∣till the whole action of the Sacra∣ment was perfected? Thus what our Sauiours gesture was at the cele∣bration of the Sacrament, is vn∣certaine. But certaine it is, that vpon an vncertaine example, no necessa∣ry Religious imitation, and obserua∣tion can be founded. Moreouer it is will-worship,* 1.1 to hold and vrge any

point, for such as in the seruice of God must of necessitie bee either eschewed, or obserued for some di∣uine respect; not because we cleere∣ly see in the Word of God with the eyes of Faith that it is such: but because, according to the minde of the flesh, that is, our naturall rea∣son and affection, we conceit it and will haue it to be such. Seeing there∣fore it is not certaine by the Scrip∣ture, that our Sauiour did sit or lye, when hee did institute this Sacra∣ment, the gesture of Sitting should not be esteemed and vrged, as ne∣cessarie to be vsed thereat.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Col. 2. 18.